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Thorium, The Betamax of Nuclear Technologies

Worthly has up a review of different technologies that are “world-changing”
and “just over the horizon.” Some seem pretty close by: self-driving cars, for
example. Others are new to me, others I’ve heard of, still, the real worth of
such round ups is that they allow us to dream of the future as a utopia. That’s
why it’s a dream not a nightmare, which could sum up a fair number of people’s
view of the present. Once the future becomes the present, the first
two self-driving cars in Ohio will crash into each other and all will be
normal again.

Nuclear power can easily solve all of our energy problems, and liquid
fluoride thorium reactors could be one of the most promising energy sources that
mankind has ever created. These reactors use thorium which is safer, more
abundant, and more efficient than current nuclear fuel options. You can fit a
lifetimes supply of thorium fuel in your hand, that’s how efficient these
reactors are. When we get the technology up to speed, we can realistically
create these nuclear power plants on a large scale. People need to get over
their fear of nuclear energy, as it is really one of the most important
achievements that mankind has ever made. It’s difficult to explain all the
details of liquid fluoride thorium reactors, but this video does a pretty great
job at hitting all the major details and it will also make you wonder why we
aren’t pouring money to fund this.

You can find the video at the link. A fascinating watch.

This is basically a molten salt reactor – which delivers uranium and thorium fuel using molten salt as the medium (thorium needs uranium to start a reaction) – and has been around since the 50s. Granted,
the technology hasn’t stood still, but what was known about thorium then is
still true now. We even know that the thorium fuel cycle scales up to industrial levels, a key
issue with technologies of its kind. But – that’s not the way the industry went.

Thorium became the Betamax of nuclear technology – perhaps superior to the
uranium fuel cycle in some ways and with a devoted fan base in the relevant
community, but still not the way forward when standardization entered the
mix.

Still, as someone who has frequently been a zealot for losing technologies –
Betamax, OS/2, HD-DVD - it’s a shame to lose what they offer, even if not
officially the “winner.” Sometimes, "losing" technologies prevail, sort of. Look at turntables. And who knows? This is about the future, where potential is limitless.

As always, the hub of the thorium community is the excellent Energy from Thorium blog – or former
blog, as it has lately morphed into a foundation dedicated to the element and
its limitless potential. If thorium fascinates you, that’s your web destination.

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It is most unfortunate that the current uranium fuel cycle nuclear technology, is not a smashing success in North America or Europe. This would seem to be a market failure. By switching to Uranium fueled Molten Salt Reactor, nuclear costs can be significantly lowered.

The crux here is the public is wary if not frightened of ANY nuclear reactor, no matter the type, so if you can't persaude them that current nuclear energy is safe and productive it won't matter beans if you tout the virtues of Thorium if the public doesn't want nuke-anything bullt. It's called the in-the-same-boat syndrome and Thor folks best share the PR oars promoting the record of current reactors if they want theirs to ever see light of day.

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